Tracking

July 2010

July 31, 2010

Phytoplankton form the base of the food pyramid. Scientific American reports that these tiny organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope are declining in numbers according to a report published on July 29th in Nature.

"The tiny organisms, known as phytoplankton, also gobble up carbon dioxide to produce half the world's oxygen output—equaling that of trees and plants on land. But their numbers have dwindled since the dawn of the 20th century, with unknown consequences for ocean ecosystems and the planet's carbon cycle". Follow the link to read the full article.

July 30, 2010

BBC News reports that flooding in northeastern China has stranded 30,000 people in one town and washed 1,000 barrels of explosive chemicals into a river. Check out the video of the Three Gorges Dam to see the power of the flood water and the potential human impact if the water is not controlled.

July 29, 2010

BBC News reports that the Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in the south of the country due to extreme cold weather where hundreds have died. Temperatures have dropped to as low as -24C. The state of emergency in over half the country means regional authorities can access emergency funds to provide medicine, blankets and shelter. Follow the link to find out more about this crisis situation.

July 28, 2010

The FAO Media Centre reports that insufficient funding for agriculture continues to "hamstring efforts to improve food security, local food production and provide income opportunities in rural areas" six months after the devastating quake. Follow the link to read the full article.

July 27, 2010

The FAO Media Centre reports that "using the energy crop jatropha for biodiesel production could benefit poor farmers, particularly in semi-arid and remote areas of developing countries, according to a report published by FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

But the report stresses that jatropha is still essentially a wild plant sorely in need of crop improvement. Expecting jatropha to substitute significantly for oil imports in developing countries is unrealistic. Many of the actual investments and policy decisions on developing jatropha as an oil crop have been made without the backing of sufficient science-based knowledge," the report said. "Realizing the true potential of jatropha requires separating facts from the claims and half-truths." Follow the link to find out more about this plant. It is especially exciting because it can grow in marginal soils not suitable for agriculture, can improve degraded soils and prevent soil erosion as well as being a potential biofuel.

July 26, 2010

Ausfoodnews reports that an EU-wide health warning must now be put on any food or drink that contains artificial colours that are thought to cause hyperactivity in some children. This is following the Southampton Study, commissioned by the UK Food Standards Agency, which suggested a possible link between consumption of six food colours and hyperactivity in children.

"Any food and drink containing any of the six colours, except drinks with more than 1.2% alcohol, will now have to provide a warning on the label that the colour ‘may have effects on activity and attention in children’. This becomes mandatory across the EU from 20 July 2010. Food and drink produced before 20 July 2010 can continue to be marketed, so it may take time for newly labelled products to appear on some store shelves.

Over the past few years, the [Food Standards] Agency has worked with the UK food industry to voluntarily remove the six colours from food and drink, and make this information available to consumers. But the new mandatory warning will make it easier for people to choose products that are free from these colours".

July 25, 2010

Nature carries an article which shows the divergence in climate and weather patterns that we are currently seeing across the globe. "A once-in-a-century drought struck much of the Amazon rainforest in 2005, reducing rainfall by 60–75% in some areas". This has lead to heated discussion amongst scientists on what this means in practice and whether lessons can be learned if the climate warms into the future. A fascinating article that shows how complex this subject really is and with more currently unknown that proven.

July 24, 2010

In another article in Scientific American it is reported that sea levels are rising unevenly in the Indian Ocean. This is placing millions at risk along low-lying coastlines in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The article states that: "Researchers from the University of Colorado and the National Center for Atmospheric Research say the rising sea levels are caused in part by climate change and are triggered by warming seas and changes to atmospheric circulation patterns.... They found that sea-level rise is particularly high along the coastlines of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, Sri Lanka, Sumatra and Java and that these areas could suffer rises greater than the global average... They also found that sea levels are falling in other areas. The study indicated that the Seychelles Islands and Zanzibar off Tanzania's coast show the largest sea-level drop". Follow the link to read the fascinating article.

July 23, 2010

Scientific American reports that the world's mangroves are being destroyed up to four times faster than other forests. This is leading to millions of dollars in losses in areas such as fisheries and storm protection. A study commissioned by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and The Nature Conservancy said that "a fifth of mangroves had been lost since 1980 and that they continued to be destroyed at a rate of around 0.7 percent a year by activities such as coastal construction and shrimp farming". Another example of the value of natural capital. Follow the link to read more.

July 22, 2010

The Independent reports that Africa's game parks have lost well over half of their big mammals, such as lions and buffalos, since 1970. "The continent-wide study by organisations including the Zoological Society of London and UN Environment Programme found big mammal populations inside national parks declined by 59 per cent between 1970 and 2005. Elephants and rhinos were not included in the study". Check out the article.